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Lockheed tops list of largest weapons producers

Not including Chinese sales, who sold more arms than anyone else in the world in 2010?

Lockheed Martin Corp. was the top global arms-producing and military-services company, with sales topping $35.7 billion, up from $33.4 billion in 2009, as ranked by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

Arms sales accounted for 78 percent of the firm's total sales of almost $46 billion in 2010.

SIPRI defines "arms sales" as the sale of military goods and services to military customers, including both sales for domestic procurement and sales for export. Military services sales showed an increase in 2010 and includes systems support, training, logistics, and maintenance, repair and overhaul

Lockheed business comes its from aircraft, electronics, missiles and space sectors.

The lack of accurate Chinese data makes it impossible to include those enterprises in the ranking, SIPRI said.

"The data for 2010 demonstrates, once again, the major players’ ability to continue selling arms and military services despite the financial crises currently affecting other industries," said Dr. Susan Jackson, SIPRI arms industry expert, in a Feb. 27 press release.

In addition SIPRI, which has been running the Arms Industry Database since 1989 containing financial and employment data on arms-producing firms, believes that the arms sector is actually shielded from drastic financial threats.

Nipping at the heels of Lockheed's 2010 sales were BAE Systems Inc. with $32.8 million in arms sales and Boeing Co. at $31.3 million.

Other contractors in the Top 10 include: Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, Raytheon, EADS, Finmeccanica, L-3 Communications and United Technologies.

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